Senate’s death penalty for kidnappers

The Senate is poised to enact a law that will prescribe the death penalty for kidnapping and hostage-taking in the country. This resolve is coming on the heels of the kidnap and rescue of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. The 65 year-old ex-minister and former lawmaker was kidnapped penultimate  week on her way to her farm. 

Kidnapping has become a thriving criminal industry of sorts. Prominent and not-so-prominent citizens have been targeted. One-time presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae; foster father of former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as his nephew and three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, Lagos, were some of the victims whose kidnaps recently claimed prominent media attention. Constitutional lawyer and activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Chief Okey Wali (SAN) were also subjected to the ordeal. 

Available statistics show that 225 kidnap cases were recorded between October and November last year across the 24 states. In all, N85 billion worth of ransom was demanded while N28 million was paid by victims’ families or governments. Those whose relations are unable to pay are sometimes killed. Though arrests are being made, yet the tide of this criminality keeps soaring. 

Apart from a handful of states that have imposed the capital punishment on the heinous act, others are still treating it with kid gloves. 

The time has come for us to take a serious look at this crime, which is blighting our image internationally. We believe that what is required to tackle this problem goes beyond the inchoate enactments among the federal and state legislatures. There must be a national action plan against kidnapping which every segment of society must key into. Such a game-plan will examine if the death penalty will solve the problem. 

Once it is nationally agreed, all segments of society will pursue it until it becomes unattractive to kidnap people in Nigeria. We believe that the death penalty could act as a deterrent, even though it could also spike the number of people who lose their lives in the kidnappers’ dens. Kidnapping is a dastardly crime, and we must send the strong message that those who involve themselves in it deserve no mercy. However, we must also explore the sociological, underlying factors that drive people to the crime, which include high unemployment rate, lack of welfare for the less privileged and the persistent quest for quick money, which permeates all levels of society. 

Besides, the law-enforcement agencies must improve inter-agency synergy and redouble their efforts at intelligence gathering. They must work with the civilian populace to share intelligence to ensure that crimes are nipped in the bud. We must make it clear that kidnapping, like all crimes, does not pay.